Private Richard Leslie Norden

Richard Leslie Norden was born on 24 August 1948 to parents Rita Crane and Walter Norden, in Gundagai, New South Wales. He enlisted in the Australian Army on 27 April 1966, shortly before his 18th birthday.

After a period of training in Australia, Norden deployed to Vietnam in December 1967 with the 1st Australian Reinforcement Unit. There, he undertook combat training and was posted to the 7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment on 31 January 1968, later transferring to the 1st Battalion on 10 April.

While patrolling out of Fire Support Base Coral on 14 May 1968, his platoon was ambushed and came under heavy fire, wounding the forward scout and section commander. Though wounded himself, Norden repeatedly ran forward under heavy fire to engage the enemy and recover the wounded and dead. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in December 1968 for his actions.

Norden returned to Australia from his deployment on 13 August 1968. He discharged from the Australian Army in April 1969.

In February 1970 Norden joined the Australian Capital Territory Police Force. He was killed in a motorcycle accident on duty on 30 October 1972 at the age of 24.

On 1 October 2024 Richard Norden was retrospectively awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia for his actions on 14 May 1968 during the Battle of Coral-Balmoral. He is first veteran of the 1st Australian Task Force to receive the honour.

Victoria Cross Citation:
For most conspicuous acts of gallantry in action in the presence of the enemy in the ‘AO Surfers’ Area of Operations in the Bien Hoa province, Vietnam, on 14 May 1968 during the Battle of Fire Support Base Coral.